Police officer cleared of using his dog as a weapon to 'vent his contempt' for criminals

A police constable has been cleared of using his dog as a weapon to "vent his contempt" for criminals.

Pc Paul Jackson, 36, was accused of deploying his German shepherd dog Jerry to seriously injure five men who all abandoned cars that were being followed by police in Greater Manchester.

But the former lifeguard said he acted in a reasonable and proportionate manner during the incidents between August 2015 and September 2016.

The former lifeguard was cleared of five counts of wounding with intent and five alternative counts of causing grievous bodily harm on Friday following a trial at Preston Crown Court.

His Greater Manchester Police (GMP) colleague Pc Paul Lockett, 37, from Altrincham, was also cleared of aiding and abetting one of Pc Jackson's alleged assaults and a second count of misconduct in a public office.

Pc Jackson was investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after complaints about his use of Jerry and excessive violence while working for GMP's tactical vehicle intercept unit.

The five complainants who gave evidence at the trial all have previous convictions - ranging from cannabis possession and driving offences to a career burglar and a convicted murderer.

Pc Jackson denied he lost control in anger and urged Jerry to bite targets.

Jurors heard the officer has received three commendations - including two Chief Constable's Awards - since he joined GMP in 2008.

In 2010 he rugby-tackled a man who doused himself in petrol and threatened to set himself alight with his family nearby.

Five years later, he helped detain a gang who robbed a farmhouse in Hull and tortured a couple.

His superior, Inspector Tariq Butt, told the jury Pc Jackson was the "ultimate professional" and added: "If I could clone the traits of a police dog handler it would be Pc Paul Jackson."

Co-accused Pc Lockett also earned a Chief Constable's Award for his role in apprehending the gangsters in the violent robbery in Hull.

He denied acting as lookout in the alleged wounding of Kelly and then failing to report the incident.

IOPC regional director Amanda Rowe said: "The next steps are to complete the conduct matters for these officers. Greater Manchester Police agreed with our findings, and we await their response with regard to any further proceedings."